Public opinion, knowledge, and Medicare reform

A review of public opinion and focus-group research reveals consistently in adequate understanding of Medicare by the public and misinterpretation of p ublic opinion information by policy advocates. Closer analysis of apparent conflicts in values related to self-sufficiency, personal responsibility, a nd government, however, reveals strong support for the basic premises of so cial insurance embodied in Medicare. The likelihood of meaningful policy di scussions about Medicare depends, in part, on whether the policy and resear ch communities can find ways to provide the electorate with the knowledge t hey need to understand the implications of reform.